Everything Car Shows and more!!

In front of an estimated 20,000 screaming fans at Fuji Speedway, 60 miles south of Tokyo, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda drove the sharp-looking Toyota 86 down the mile-long straightaway, passed a dozen high profile Toyota and Lexus race cars parked on the grid, and pulled up in front of the world’s media before announcing the all-new model. Few cars are accorded such lavish unveilings. In fact, few cars are worthy of such exaltation. This is one of those cars.

As Toyoda apologized for keeping the motoring public waiting for the car’s launch, he said, “All car lovers have been waiting for this kind of car.” Known for his hands-on developmental work and stints behind the wheel of the Lexus LFA in the Nurburgring 24-hour race, Toyoda poured his heart out to the expectant crowd. “For the last 10 years, I have been a part of the development of this car, so I really feel like my baby is coming out.”

Gone is the concept car’s name, FT-86, replaced by the simple number 86, at least in Japan — in Europe, it will be called the GT 86, and its American-market name is not yet known. With design inspired by the Toyota 2000GT from the 1960s and more recently, the early 1980s rear-wheel drive drifting sensation Corolla Levin AE86 from which the 86 takes its name, the new coupe was borne out of an intriguing joint development project between Toyota and Subaru.

Without going into too much detail, the 86’s exterior styling and product planning (bankrolling) was provided by Toyota, while Subaru supplied most of the bits –- the chassis, the engine, the transmission, brakes and suspension — that make the car so much fun to drive. Toyota offered D4S direct injection engine technology that makes Subaru’s revised 2.0-liter boxer engine cleaner and more fuel efficient, aspects that needed attention. Generating a beefy 200 hp at 7000 rpm and 151 lb-ft of torque at 6600 rpm, the 86 gets 30 more horses than the Mazda MX-5, its main Japanese rival.

The secret to the Toyota’s driver thrills lie in the world-first use of a boxer engine in a front-engine/rear-drive layout with a choice of Subaru Impreza-inspired Aisin six-speed manual or six-speed automatic flappy paddles. The 86 is a two-plus-two, but don’t expect to get anyone over 5’7” in the back seat. Meanwhile, the supportive and comfortable driver’s seat will accomodate folk up to 6’3” without problems. Pedal positions are perfectly set, and visibility is good all round.

Taking off on our allotted three test laps of the short course at Fuji, we are delighted to hear and feel strong Subaru flavor burbling its way through the cabin. The naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine delivers healthy dollops of torque through the bottom to mid-range, but could use an extra tweak at the top end. On the tarmac, the 86 feels light but firmly planted, its ride firm but not harsh. Turn-in is sharp and accurate. Body roll in minimal, thanks partly to the engine’s low center of gravity. Tire grip levels are higher than expected, with a slight tendency to understeer.

Since the 86 was developed to be a reasonably priced sports coupe with serious drifting and racing capabilities, we switch off the VSC and traction control units to see what would happen. After dabbing the firm disc brakes to tuck the nose into a tight left-hander while holding 5000 rpms in second, the initial hint of understeer is replaced by a welcome serve of tail action that requires an instant dose of opposite lock to control the slide. But given our very limited time in the car, and the fact that a professional racing driver even spun out once during the drive, we will reserve judgment on the car’s overall balance and whether a drift can be held for any length of time.

Toyota went on today about its (and Subaru’s) decision to build a lightweight sports car that avoided AWD, turbos, and sticky tires. The end result is a stunning first step: This car is a blast to drive and will inject some much-needed adrenaline into an otherwise bland lineup…but we can’t help think that enthusiasts and tuners around the world will want more power –- and very soon — leading to bolted-on turbos. Why? Because the chassis can take more power. A lot more power.

The 86, and its brother the BRZ, are not just fun, rear-drive coupes powered by the same boxer engine. This joint venture has added a fun car to Toyota’s range while injecting some rear-drive spice and variety to Subaru’s AWD lineup. But more than that, these two cars will make the world stand up and take notice that Japan has not forgotten how to make a great driver’s car that looks the part and does not break the bank.

Source: Toyota, http://www.motortrend.com

To Subscribe click here

We know that the Toyota Sprinter Trueno (AE86) will be getting a spiritual successor in whatever vehicle comes out of the other end of the development of the FT-86 concept. However, although Toyota fanatics have been howling for a replacement for the Supra for much longer, Toyota hasn’t openly committed to plans to revive its former halo car. That doesn’t stop talented artists from taking their own cracks at designing the next Toyota Supra.

Speedhunters, an automotive lifestyle blog run by the guys behind EA’s Need for Speed series of racing sims, is usually home to some pretty sweet car photography, but this time they’ve enlisted 3D artist and designer Andreas Fougner of EA Stockholm to try to visualize a next-gen Supra concept. The resulting car blends proportions of the last-generation Toyota Supra (Mark IV) with the current design cues from Toyota’s FT-86 II and Scion FR-S concepts. The result is simply stunning.

The strong forward-canted, wedge-shaped profile terminates in an upturned spoiler that’s integrated into the decklid. Students of car design will likely also notice a bit of Audi R8 and Nissan 370Z DNA in this Supra rendering, but that’s a good thing. Of course, there’s no news here about a potential power train, pricing, or plans to build–this is purely a design exercise by a third party.

If I must nitpick, one of the strongest of the design elements also stands out as the oddest to my eye. I’m talking about the wraparound C-pillar that creates an awkwardly large vent behind the door that defies function in what I assume is a front-engined, rear-driven vehicle.

Toyota has played with the idea of reviving the Supra before when it trotted out the FT-HS concept with its hybrid V-6 architecture at the 2007 Detroit auto show, but has been mostly silent on the matter as of late. When you consider that the FT-86 and Lexus LFA are proof that someone at Toyota is still interested in making fun cars, it wouldn’t be surprising if somewhere in the deep recesses of Toyota engineering, the next Supra were cooking. We hope it looks like this.

Source: Bullfinch Visuals via Speedhunters

Read more: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-20112520-48/artist-renders-next-gen-toyota-supra-concept/#ixzz1ZYmVDOcu

Toyota’s Tundra pickup didn’t have much wrong with it; as such, it has received the subtlest of tweaks before wading back into battle for the 2012 model year.

For starters, all Tundras get some slightly tougher components: a heavy-duty battery and starter, a windshield wiper de-icer, mudflaps for the front and rear wheels, heated power mirrors, and daytime running lights.

The 2012 model also simplifies trim levels into just two: Tundra and Limited. The base Tundra model comes equipped with Toyota’s 4.0-liter V-6 engine putting out 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, a five-speed automatic transmission, rear-wheel drive, and 18-inch steel wheels.

Upgrades from there include electronically controlled four-wheel drive, and either a 4.6-liter V-8 with 310 hp and 327 lb-ft of torque or a 5.7-liter V-8 with 381 hp and 401 lb-ft of torque with a six-speed automatic transmission.

The Limited model adds a smattering of convenience and visual features: a six-disc in-dash CD changer with 12 speakers, steering wheel audio controls, Bluetooth phone connectivity, automatic climate control, and 18-inch aluminum alloy wheels — with an optional upgrade to 20-inchers. From there, Tundra owners can customize their trucks by outfitting them with either Regular, Double (extended), or Crew Max cabs; and short, standard, or extended bed lengths. Available upgrade packages include the TRD Rock Warrior package, which adds Bilstein shock absorbers, 17-inch alloy wheels, and BFGoodrich off-road tires. For 2012, the Rock Warrior package adds a standard back-up camera, which is displayed on an auto-dimming HomeLink rearview mirror.

Pricing on the 2012 models is as yet unannounced.

Source: http://rumors.automobilemag.com

What started as the Toyota FT-86 concept and portended a joint-effort sports car between Toyota and Subaru is now the Scion FR-S concept that debuted at the 2011 New York Auto Show. It points the way toward a production car that will go on sale sometime in 2012. Scion cannot be more specific on timing due to the upheaval in the Japanese car industry from the earthquake and tsunami, which have wreaked havoc on all future-production planning and timelines.

What we do know for sure is that when it DOES go on sale here, the FR-S (Front-engine, Rear-wheel drive, Sport) will herald the return of affordable, rear-wheel-drive performance from Toyota, something we haven’t seen since the RWD Corollas and the MR2. The FR-S is inspired in large part by the AE86 performance Corolla that was a legend in Japan back in the 1980s and is, of course, powered by a Subaru flat-four engine that will likely produce somewhere in the range of 200 hp. The production FR-S will be offered with both a six-speed, short-throw manual gearbox and a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters. A limited-slip rear diff will help distribute the power to the rear wheels. There are no production specifications available yet for the FR-S, but Scion VP Jack Hollis promises that it will, like the AE86, “rely on a remarkable combination of a lightweight design, manageable power, and great balance.”

Hollis also promises a 2+2 seating configuration with enough cargo room when the rear seats are folded to accommodate a full set of race-spec wheels and tires plus floor jack for weekend racers. It remains to be seen whether the concept’s staggered 20-inch wheels make it to production: they’re 8 inches wide up front and 10 inches wide at the rear.

The hyper enthusiastic Hollis is clearly itching to add the FR-S to the Scion lineup: “This will be our flagship,” he told Automobile Magazine during the car’s unveiling at Javits Center, “but we won’t even discuss pricing until next year. The best way to say it is that it will be under $30,000. The most expensive model we currently have, the TC, can reach about $20,000.”

It would seem that the only obvious competitor for the Scion FR-S in the U.S. market is the Hyundai Genesis coupe, but Hollis sees it differently: “There’s no set competitor. We don’t even have a competitive set. We’ve gone ahead and compared it with 14 or 15 different vehicles, in different research clinics, and it’s all over the place, depending on where you live, how old you are, and so, at this point, it may stand alone. It may literally be alone in that sub-$30K….because I think when you go over $30K, you create a different expectation with the consumer.” He continues: “I just think it’s gonna be a little bit here and a little bit there…I think we’re gonna take a little bit from everybody. There’s not a head-to-head competitor.”

Source: http://www.automobilemag.com/auto_shows/new_york/2011/1104_scion_fr_s_concept_first_look/index.html

TORRANCE, Calif. – Toyota introduced today the all-new, seventh-generation Camry, America’s best-selling car for nine years running and 13 of the past 14 years. The 2012 Camry debuts a bold, sophisticated new design with a more spacious interior, improved driving dynamics and an even quieter ride than before. With class leading safety, fuel economy and multi-media technology added in, the end result is the best Camry ever made. Introduced in 1983, the Toyota Camry would later establish the template for the modern midsize sedan, setting benchmarks for Quality, Dependability and Reliability, along with a comfortable, quiet ride. Since that time, Toyota has sold more than 15 million Camry models worldwide.

Read more of the press release here

Check out more of the 2012 Toyota Camry here

The current Toyota Tacoma has been on the market since 2005 and even though it’s soon to be one of the only small trucks left, Toyota is set to release a designed 2012 Tacoma this fall. Ford has already killed the Ranger pickup and GM’ssmall trucks may also soon follow, but Toyota remains committed to the segment.

The 2012 Toyota Tacoma is going to get a redesigned exterior and a new interior. Even though the Tacoma will be new for 2012, Toyota’s Group Vice President and brand manager Bob Carter recently stated that it will still employ the same engines as the current model.

The Tacoma remains an important model for Toyota. It’s an important segment for us because it provides us with young customers,” Mr. Carter said.

Source: http://dsc.discovery.com/cars-bikes/2012-toyota-tacoma-to-get-a-redesign-this-fall.html

Although the car wasn’t officially meant to debut until later today at the New York auto show, two leaked pictures let us have an early peek at the Scion FR-S concept. Scion released a teaser video of the vehicle a week ago, promising it would debut in New York.

Not much is known about the Scion, but it’s expected to a version of the upcoming Toyota FT-86 sports coupe rebranded as a Scion for sale in the U.S. That means the FR-S should have a 2.0- or 2.5-liter turbocharged flat-four engine and rear-wheel drive — the youth-oriented brand’s first rear-drive car. The styling is very closely related to the FT-86 concepts we’ve seen at prior auto shows, with oxygen-guzzling front air intakes, large wheels, and an aggressive coupe roofline.

We’ve already seen the Toyota FT-86 preening for photographers, as well as the engine that will power Subaru’s take on a new rear-drive sports coupe (the FT-86 is a joint project between Toyota and Subaru.) Now we’re just waiting for the finished FT-86 to be unveiled, which may happen at the Tokyo motor show later this year.

What do you think of the styling of the Scion FR-S, and would you consider buying one? Let us know in the comments section below.

Source: Speedhunters

The Japanese earthquake may have hit Toyota harder than any other automaker, as its latest issue stemming from the disaster revolves around further parts shortages. As a result of the shortages, Toyota will ration its existing inventory until its supply chain is back on line.

While parts shortages are affecting production lines globally, Toyota‘s latest drought involves replacement components. Toyota describes the parts in short supply as body panel and pillar subassemblies, and shock absorbers. In total, some 233 parts will be rationed for the next 30 days, with that timeline possibly being extended depending on the state of the affected suppliers.

“It has been confirmed that damage sustained by certain Japanese parts suppliers will interrupt their normal production,” Toyota spokesman Mike Michaels told Automotive News. “Inventories of parts from these suppliers are currently adequate.”

Standard replenishment of short-order parts will not be filled for dealers, unless there is an emergency order placed. Toyota will update dealers daily on the status of the parts shortages.

The shortage makes up only a tiny sliver of Toyota’s current 300,000 active part numbers; most vehicles on the road today contain roughly 30,000 parts.